By Abigael Kibanga
Like many Kenyans, Nyamira Town boda boda rider Edward Onchana is struggling every day to make life better for his family as the harsh economy continues to bite.
Onchana says boda boda riding is his only source of income, yet he must struggle daily to buy fuel, pay the motorcycle owner’s remittances, and still take something home for his family.
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“I start work at 5 a.m. and sometimes finish at 10 p.m., but I still don’t earn enough,” he says.
Edward never planned to become a boda boda rider. After completing secondary school, he went to college with hopes of securing employment. However, things did not turn out as he had dreamed.
At first, he wanted to start a business, but lack of capital became a major obstacle.
A friend later offered him a motorcycle on a hire-purchase arrangement, and he accepted it, hoping it would only be temporary. However, six years later, he is still on the road trying to survive.
Despite the hardships, Edward remains hopeful that life will eventually improve.
He says rising fuel prices continue to eat into his earnings, while police crackdowns, rainy days, and motorcycle breakdowns further reduce his income.
“Sometimes I go home with less than five hundred shillings,” he admits.
The low income worries him because his wife and children depend on him for food, rent, and school fees. At times, he says, his children sleep hungry, leaving him feeling like he has failed them as a father.
Edward now dreams of owning his own motorcycle, saying it would greatly improve his life.
“If I get my own motorcycle, my life will change for the better, and I will be able to meet my needs,” he says with a smile.
